This past week was the busiest of the school year so far for Temple College athletics, when it came to scheduled event.
It will continue to pick up steam over the next few weeks.
There were 12 games total on the docket for the program, with men's and women's basketball beginning the second half of North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference play, and baseball and softball continuing with their non-conference schedules.
Here is a look back at last week and a quick preview of this week in Temple College athletics.
Men's basketball starts second half of conference play with big win over Ranger College
The Temple College men's basketball began the second half of North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference against Ranger College at Kirby Johnson Court on Saturday afternoon.
Temple's suffocating defense threw the Rangers off throughout the game, and the Leopards pulled away with an 18-2 run to start the second half to down the Rangers, 82-55.
Temple forced several backcourt turnovers that they turned into points. Although the Rangers stayed close in the first half, the Leopards led at the half, 38-32.
The Leopards opened the second half with five forced turnovers and an 18-2 run over 4:20 to take a 56-34 lead. Temple's lead in the contest grew to 27 points.
The Leopards shot 9-of-12 from the free-throw line and sank a trio of three-pointers.
Josh Telfort led the Leopards with 21 points, and Roy Gardner added 20.
Where the Leopards sit
Temple ends their week with a 15-8 record overall, and 5-3 in conference play. They sit in third place two games behind McLennan and one game behind Weatherford. The Leopards are one game ahead of Collin County and Southwestern Christian.
What is next for the Leopards
The Leopards will travel to McKinney on Wednesday to take on Collin County Community College (14-10 overall, 4-4 conference). On Saturday, the Leopards travel to Grayson College (10-14 overall, 2-6 conference) to take on the Vikings.
Women's basketball logged two wins, in midst of playoff chase
The Temple College women's basketball team finished the first half of North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference play on the road as they took on the Cisco College Wranglers on Wednesday.
Temple pulled away from Cisco in the second quarter and received a double-double from Jaylice Rosario as the Leopards coasted past the Wranglers. 69-51.
The Leopards led 16-13 after the first ten minutes, and outscored the Wranglers in the second quarter, 21-12, to take a 37-25 advantage into the halftime break.
Temple's 18-12 third quarter allowed the Leopards to extend their lead to 18 after the third quarter before the teams each scored 14 points in the final period.
Rosario led the Leopards with 17 points, which included 3-of-6 from beyond the three-point line, and 18 rebounds, nine each of the offense and defensive variety.
On Saturday, The Leopards never trailed and led by as many as 37 points before TC came away with a 79-44 win over Ranger College.
Temple's signature during the game was defense, defense, and more defense, having forced multiple turnovers to take a 19-9 lead after one quarter.
The Leopards swarmed around the ball in the second quarter to outscore the Rangers in the second quarter, 25-5, and led at half, 44-14.
TC flexed its bench throughout the second half and got valuable playing time as the Leopards led at the end of the third quarter, 64-33.
The Leopards shot 7-of-9 from the free-throw line and drilled nine three-pointers.
Four Leopards scored in double figures, led by Mychal White with 19 points. Rosario added 15 points, Imani McCray contributed 12 points, and Janiya Davis chipped in ten points.
Where the Leopards sit
The Leopards are 15-8 overall and sit in the thick of the NTJCAC playoff chase. With a 5-4 record, in fifth place, and seven games left in conference play, the Leopards sit one game behind Weatherford for the final playoff spot.
What is next for the Leopards
To say this week is important for the Leopards' playoff chase is an understatement, with both games pivotal to launch TC into the top four. On Wednesday, Temple travels to McKinney to take on Collin County Community College (16-7, 7-2 NTJCAC, third place). On Saturday, the Leopards travel to play Grayson College (17-5, 7-1 NTJCAC, second place).
Baseball wins two of three non-conference games
Temple College baseball played a three-game week, with a mid-week contest at home against Wharton County Junior College and a weekend doubleheader in Lufkin against Angelina College.
On Wednesday, the Leopards drew six bases-loaded walks and Tobin Eschief scattered five hits in six innings and struck out as six at Temple run-ruled Wharton, 11-1.
Temple's seven-run first inning was fueled by three straight bases-loaded walks drawn by Lance Cantrell, Jackson Todd, and Sage Sanders. Ryder Rutledge and Brayden Simmons added two-run singles.
Simmons was 2-of-4 with four runs scored for the Leopards, who drew a total of 12 walks in the game.
On Saturday, Temple began a six-game road trip with a doubleheader against Angelina College in Lufkin.
Temple played solid throughout and were able to gain a split of the twin-bill.
The Roadrunners took game one, 8-7. The Leopards game two, 5-2.
In the opener, the Leopards rallied from four runs down with three runs in both the third and fourth innings to lead 6-4.
Temple led 7-5 in the bottom of the sixth when the Roadrunners rallied for three runs to take an 8-7 advantage. The Leopards were unable to score in the top of the seventh.
Simmons had three of the Leopards' eight hits and drove in two.
Eric Tenery, Caden Barry-Smith, and Micah Melott each pitched two innings, having combined to allow eight runs on eight hits, walked five, struck out five, and hit two batters.
In the second innings, TC and Angelina engaged in a scoreless ball game before Daylen Kirks' bases-loaded single in the top of the fifth gave Temple the lead. Peanut Brazzle added a sacrifice fly, and Lance Cantrell added a two-run double to give the Leopards a 4-0 lead.
Following an Angelina run in the bottom of the fourth, Temple picked up a run in the top of the sixth. Rutledge stole home during an attempted double-steal to reestablish the Leopards' four-run lead.
The Roadrunners scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to cap the scoring in the doubleheader.
Rutledge scored twice and walked twice helping pace the Leopards.
Patrick Collopy pitched 4 2/3 innings to pick up the win, having allowed one run on four hits, struck out five, hit a batter, and walked one. Gavin Oliver picked up the save, having dealt 2 1/3 innings, allowed one run on one hit, walked two, and struck out three.
Where the Leopards sit
The Leopards sit at 3-4 overall, 2-1 at home, and 1-3 on the road.
What is next for the Leopards
On Tuesday, TC will travel to Corsicana for a contest against Navarro College (0-4 as of Sunday). On Wednesday, the Leopards travel to Alvin for a doubleheader at Alvin Community College (7-4).
Softball bounces back from heartbreaker to win five straight
The Temple College softball began their week in doubleheader action against Blinn College at Hohlt Park in Brenham.
The Leopards came from behind in game one to force extra innings and took a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth. Grace Bracken's two-out, two-strike, two-run double to right-centerfield dealt the Leopards their first loss of the season, 3-2.
In the second game, Marleigh Mann and Emily Delgado drove in three runs each, and Angie DeLeon and Marli Kennedy each had three hits as Temple outlasted Blinn, 10-7.
On Thursday, the Leopards hosted Coastal Bend College in the home end of a two-day, four-game series.
In the first game, DeLeon homered twice, and Lily Garcia collected a homer and a triple to aid Haley Crawford and Delgado's combined six-hitter to shut out the Cougars in six innings, 8-0.
The Leopards hit a season-high five homers in the game, and Jasmine Benavidez's RBI double gave the Leopards the walk-off hit to end the game.
In the second game, ten of the Leopards' 17 hits were doubles as they scored in all four of their at-bats to run-rule Coastal, 16-3.
Delgado drove in three runs, with five Leopards having contributed multi-hit games.
Hannah Calhoun and Dalanee Ekster combined to scatter five hits in the circle.
The Leopards traveled to Beeville on Friday for the back end of the four-game series against Coastal Bend.
DeLeon had three doubles, and six runs batted in, and Benavidez had a three-run triple to pace the Leopards in the opener as they run-ruled Coastal for the third straight game, 10-1.
Crawford and Reese Cottrell combined to fire a two-hitter over five innings.
In the second game, DeLeon homered, had three hits, and scored twice, and the Leopards got multi-hit games from Benavidez, Delgado, and Ma'Rya Quarles to shut out the Cougars, 8-0.
Calhoun and Delgado combined to three-hit Coastal.
Where the Leopards sit
No. 3 Temple College Leopards are 9-1. Although conference play is not in session for another three weeks, the Leopards are one of three teams with nine wins in the non-conference campaign. The other two teams: No. 2 McLennan Community College and No. 12 Grayson College. TC, Grayson, and Vernon all have just one loss.
What is next for the Leopards
Over the next 11 days, the Leopards will play 14 games, with just two at home.
On Tuesday, the Leopards will travel to the Texas coast to play a doubleheader against Galveston College (6-2). On Wednesday, the Leopards will travel to Houston for a doubleheader against San Jacinto College-South (4-8, as of Sunday). The Leopards will host Galveston on Saturday in doubleheader action at the Danny Scott Athletic Complex. Next week, the Leopards will be on the road for eight games in West Texas.